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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Bethesda, MD – The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) released a best practices guide designed to aid individuals and organizations in reducing the threat posed by animal rights extremists. The Threat of Extremism to Medical Research: Best Practices to Mitigate Risk through Preparation and Communication captures the recommendations from a FASEB summit that convened key stakeholders from the international animal research community. Guidance in the document is focused on 1) mitigation of the extremist threat through preparation and 2) communication and outreach to educate the public about the benefits of animal research. The report also includes international resources to allow researchers and organizations around the world to tailor their extremism preparedness and outreach polices.

"This report not only provides a useful set of recommendations for individuals and research institutions to protect themselves from animal rights extremism, but it also brings attention to the international scope of the movement," said P. Michael Conn, PhD, Co-Chair of the Summit Steering Committee and Senior Vice President and Associate Provost at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Kevin Kregel, PhD, Co-Chair of the Summit Steering Committee and Professor and Chair of the Department of Health and Human Physiology at the University of Iowa, continued, "Extremists can target any research institution or individual, and this document will help them prepare for that possibility."

The best practices report is available for download here. A website with additional resources is available here.

FASEB is composed of 26 societies with more than 115,000 members, making it the largest coalition of biomedical research associations in the United States. Our mission is to advance health and welfare by promoting progress and education in biological and biomedical sciences through service to our member societies and collaborative advocacy.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Bethesda, MD - The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) has released its annual research funding recommendations to Congress, Federal Funding for Biomedical & Related Life Sciences Research FY 2015. "We are at a critical juncture. Congress needs to take strong action to reverse the erosion of our research infrastructure" said FASEB President Margaret K. Offermann, MD, PhD.

Specific recommendations for the five agencies included in the report are:

· National Institutes of Health (NIH)

As a first step toward a multi-year program of sustainable growth, FASEB recommends a minimum of $32.0 billion for NIH in FY 2015.

· National Science Foundation (NSF)

FASEB recommends a minimum of $7.6 billion for the NSF in FY 2015 for its research and education programs covering a wide range of science, engineering, and mathematics disciplines.

· Department of Energy Office of Science (DOE SC)

To promote sustainability of the critical DOE research programs and maintain the unique system of national laboratories, FASEB recommends a minimum of $5.4 billion for the DOE SC in FY 2015.

· Veterans Affairs Medical and Prosthetic Research Program (VA)

FASEB recommends funding the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program at a minimum of $621 million in FY 2015 to address the unsolved health care problems of the growing veteran population.

· United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

FASEB recommends a minimum of $335 million for the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) in FY 2015 as part of a sustained commitment to investment in agricultural research.

Nearly 50 scientists from 21 states and Puerto Rico will hand deliver the FASEB FY 2015 Federal Funding report to more than 80 congressional offices during the Federation's annual Capitol Hill Day on March 5th. They will also discuss the unprecedented research opportunities that could be explored with additional funding for NIH and NSF.